Q&A ยท 2:47:29-2:47:44

Crewed and uncrewed carrier aircraft mix

The proposed carrier air wing moves gradually from crewed dominance toward a larger share of uncrewed aircraft.

Question

What is the best ratio of crewed to uncrewed aircraft on aircraft carriers?

Short answer

A possible starting ratio is two crewed aircraft for every uncrewed one, followed by parity and eventually a larger uncrewed share.

Notes

A possible starting mix would place two crewed aircraft aboard for every uncrewed aircraft. A later carrier air wing might reach parity, then move toward one crewed aircraft for every two or three uncrewed aircraft. The progression is conditional rather than a fixed procurement plan. It envisages a gradual shift instead of the immediate replacement of crewed aircraft.